When Garth from Star Surf Camps got tipped off that there would be another student surf festival he could barely contain his excitement. A pioneering group of hardworking Manchester surf club legends decided to add another student surf competition to the calendar, thank God! A perfect way to keep the most important values of surfing alive, having a lot of fun with all your friends with a little adventure due to surfing somewhere new!
The Lost Cove organisers are all students in their final year, making the epic festival they pulled of even more impressive when they are juggling their dissertations as well!
Despite a rainy first night the weather turned out to be spectacular, glorious sunshine highlighting the natural beauty of Whitesands Bay in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. With a large array of university surf clubs travelling from all over the UK to compete in the surf competition and have an epic time in the process.
The familiar energetic vibe was soon established as it always does in a surfing environment and despite the main competitions being called off due to lack of swell there was however an open competition on foam boards, anyone could enter and points were awarded for enthusiasm (surf stoke), tricks including headstands and any other experimental expressive surfing prowess. The conditions proved tremendous for beginners learning to surf which was ideal to encourage newcomers to the sport. And more importantly to showcase how fun surfing can and should be!
After four rigorous and intense heats of surfing and some excellent judging and commentary from Pete bounds , owner of masterclass surf coaching school, there was a final with four eager surfers gunning for first place where a rather talented long boarder from Loughborough university claimed first place congratulations John Vinton! You thoroughly deserve that Star Surf T shirt!
After an incredibly pleasant day on Whitesands beach and having crowned a winner from the open competition we drove back to the idyllic Celtic camping sight, refueled and enjoyed the last remaining sunlight and proceeded to get incredibly excited about the array of musical acts and events that where in store for us. What better way to finish off a fun surf session than with a set from A.skillz, a prolific DJ who plays at large sporting festivals all around the world and absolutely delivered and was certainly one of the shining highlights of this surfing festival weekend playing several encores on demand of the energetic crowd.
He was amply supported by local musicians and talented individuals playing in very unique and intimate audiences around a fire! Proper surf camp environment which we love!
With such a comfortable, friendly and inviting atmosphere at the Lost Cove surf festival it was a perfect way to get ready for the summer surf season in all the Star Surf Camps around Europe and was fantastic to see some familiar faces who have stayed with us recently in our Fuerteventura surf camp! Great to have seen you guys again and sure it won’t be long until the next time.
So, THANK YOU once again Lost Cove legends for such an amazing surf camp festival, Star Surf Camps are so honoured to have been involved and can’t wait to get stuck into more events in the future!
We’ll be back next year,
Your Star Surf Camps Team
